US Navy VR-64 Squadron, based at Lakehurst New Jersey, leaving for Shannon. Arrived at CWL on 11th February 2020 from Sigonella.

US Navy VR-64 Squadron, based at Lakehurst New Jersey, seen about to leave for Shannon. Arrived at CWL on 11th February 2020 from Sigonella.

Based at Lakehurst New Jersey, seen just before leaving for Shannon. Arrived at Cardiff on 11 February 2020 from Sigonella. (Note the 8-bladed props as fitted to E-3D Hawkeyes.)

A twin-seat Skyhawk of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 127 "Cyclones" at the ramp of homebase NAS Fallon. The adversary aircraft is even in rest closely and aggressively observed by its opponent in the back-ground, a VF-143 "Pukin Dogs" F-14A Tomcat.

A dying Tomcat, so sad to see that this F-14B, that was delivered in March 1985 to the US Navy as F-14A-130-GR, was scrapped during my visit to NAS Oceana. The Tomcat served proudly VF-11 as AE-101 (April 1987-March 1989) after which it was converted to F-14B. Then it was assigned to VF-103 as AA-202 (April 1992-January 1997), AA-102 (April 1998 - October 1997), AA-106 (February 1998 - March 1998) before it was transferred to VF-143 "Puckin Dogs". From September 1999 it carried AG-104 to the bare end.

There are striking color schemes and... there are striking color schemes. This one belongs to both categories I think! A-4F NJ-700 of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 127 "Cyclones" at homebase NAS Fallon. The hot rod was stored with 309th AMARG at Davis Monthan from 14 September 1992 onwards with inventory code 3A0679. Sadly, the airframe did not survive its storage period as it was scrapped by Fritz Enterprises in January 2005.

An A-4F of Strike Fighter Squadron 127 "Cyclones" prepared for a new mission over the Fallon ranges. This airframe once served the Blue Angels as number 4, and arrived with VFA-127 early 1989. Already before VFA-127 was disestablished on 23 March 1996, the A-4 was transferred to the Naval Fighter Weapons School (NFWS) at Miramar and served as code 54 from '91 to '92. Then it was transferred to Fighter Squadron 43 "Challengers" at Oceana with code AD-25. From Apr'94 onwards the Skooter was stored at AMARC where it was eventually scrapped in Jan'05 'Bullet/Elk', 3A0766 AMARC arr 7apr94/07jan05

On May 15, 1964 a US Navy Douglas C-47H was flying from Guayaquil to the Ecuadorian jungle when it crashed (apparently an emergency landing) on the slopes of Antisana volcano. One out of the eleven occupants died in this crash. For many years the plane remained almost intact as it was inside private property. As years went by people started cutting pieces off the plane to sell the metal. This is the biggest part of the plane that is left: The right wing wheel well. The engines (what remains of them) have been dragged a few meters away but have been unable to be taken due to their weight.

Curtiss MF Boat of 1919 preserved wearing late WW1 period US Navy markings

The most expensive "puzzle" of the world, planes of CVW-6 are parked in a small area on the USS Forrestal CV-59.

Operating off USS George H W Bush

Felix the cat in the classic full viz "CAG-bird" marks of the glorious VF-31 "Tomcatters" over the CV-59 USS Forrestal flight deck.

Built as an A-6A and converted in service to A-6E. Wears the markings of VA-36 Squadron.

Participant to Le Bourget Salon 1991. One of the many US Miltary aircraft at display to celebrate the end of the Desert Storm operation.

Recently repainted in full USN colours and markings of the 1940s. Ex N3190G.

An early morning departure.